As expected, the increased in the spread of Covid19 means that new restrictions has been an-nounced, which according to press release from the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs of dd. is applicable from Sunday, December 19, 2021 at. 8.00. Both the new and the existing restrictions will for now apply until 16 January 2022. The new restrictions applies to masses, other church services and other congregational events: – Admission is allowed for one participant per. 2 sqm. floor area, if they primarily sit down / kneel, and one participant per. 4 sqm. floor area if they primarily stand up. – Face masks are mandatory for people over 12 years regardless of the number of participants. The face masks can be removed when the participants sit down or stand up briefly as part of a ceremony. The priest, deacon and participants in the ceremony (eg. readers, altar servers, etc.) do not have to wear face masks during the service. – The requirement for coronapas is still in force if there is access for more than 100 people. – Information material must be set up at the church/congregational premises on requirements for corona passes, face masks and limitation of the number of participants, as well as on the possibility of expulsion. Furthermore, there are special recommendations for services on Christmas Eve: – Efforts should be made to regulate traffic at the entrance and exit and to avoid crowds outside the church. – It is recommended that seating is provided for everyone within the above-mentioned area re-quirements and that all participants are helped finding a spot. – If there are several masses or services, there should be a focus on ventilation between each service/mass.- Choir and church singers are recommended to keep a distance of approx. 2 meters. As in the diocese’s guidelines so far, communion by hand is recommended. When handing out communion on the tongue, those who receive the Body of the Lord in this way must do so in a special queue or receive the communion as the last. In the event that the priest or lay Eucharistic minister touches the mouth or hands of the worshipper, the Eucharistic minister must immediately use hand sanitizer. In addition, the Eucharistic ministers must, as before use hand sanitizer before the communion. In addition, the holy water fonts remain empty, the hosts of the congregation are brought to the altar before Mass, the greeting of peace is expressed without physical contact and the collection is collected via MobilePay or baskets at the exit.

Jacob A. Messerschmidt

Sekretær

Den katolske Kirke i Danmark, Katolsk Bispekontor

Gammel Kongevej 15, DK-1610 København V

+45 33 55 60 80  –  +45 33 55 60 03 (dir.) – www.katolsk.dk

The latest guidelines can be found here